2 gunmen hijack vending machine truck, steal $15,000

November 30, 1991

Two gunmen hijacked a vending machine company truck yesterday in East Baltimore, making off with more than $15,000, city police said.

The driver for the Columbia Vending Service, who was servicing machines in a building in the 1200 block of Montford Avenue at 2:45 p.m., was about to walk back into his truck when he was approached from behind by the two men.

One of them put a .38-caliber revolver to his head and forced him into the truck, police said.

After the men forced the driver to open a safe in the truck, they pushed him out and drove away.

At 3:35 p.m., a tip from an anonymous caller led police to the truck in the 2400 block of Chase Street, just a few blocks from where it was taken.

The robbers and money -- estimated at between $15,000 and $20,000 -- were gone, police said.